1. The taskbar seems too clustered, notification should not be shown or they should be shown in another bar.
2. Don't think the start menu is needed, but let's not start a "start button" war
3. The concept doesn't quite fit into the Metro/Modern Guidelines

Again it's a good start for a concept, but it needs a little facelift.

1- Yes I think about this, but (for me) the notification area must be there because the taskbar is always open, I think this can use one button space and callapse it if you have more notifications (like android), maybe can be one icon for all notifications, or both

2- yes don't start hehe, I don't know if this is necesary, but I have a couple of concept about switching from desktop apps to metro fullscreen apps and this can be for the start screen too, but is only an idea

One thing I would change is the taskbar. It would be cool to have a shorter taskbar (like XFCE does sometimes in LInux) and have one button to click that will bring up a popup that shows open tasks (or programs). Otherwise the taskbar is too cluttered.

yes I understand but only to know and talk about this, what is the issue about the taskbar is clustered?

for me the main goal of the start bar is showing all the things you need to know about your system, like applications opens and important info, also can be a quick launcher but this is not the first goal, for this you have the start screen/menu

one thing I like about windows is this have a taskbar and not a dock like mac

other thing about the concept is made for 10'' screen in bigger resolution can be more useful

This is only my 2 cents about the taskbar, but I will try another solutions to look more clean

here are two concepts to open frecuent program (one thing I miss a lot from start menu)

the first option is obvious, a new kind of start menu, you can switch to full screen to see the normal start screen

are two major features in a clasic start menu, one access to frecuent apps, other you can drag and drop to pin the start. The start menu is the same in start screen but showed verticaly like winpho

and this is a new concept taken from internet explorer, swipe from the bottom screen and the taskbarpinned apps and frecuent apps are showed, this could be cool because the bottom swipe in desktop is not assigned

hi dot matrix wich featu/re you feel kludgy? because all are one gesture only

maybe have two ways to show the start screen is confusing, but the other idea I think have possibilities, because already are pinned apps in the taskbar and today we dont have access to the frecuent used apps

maybe have two ways to show the start screen is confusing, but the other idea I think have possibilities, because already are pinned apps in the taskbar and today we dont have access to the frecuent used apps

That's exactly it. It needs some streamlining. Your design is doing too many different things at once, and that doesn't work out too well.

This is a perfect example of why you don't get "choice" in operating systems, and why you don't get to switch between the Start Menu, Start Screen, and somewhere in between in Windows 8. It's a kludgy feeling.